Senators Still In Talks Over Asbestos Trust Fund -- MesoLink.org -- 09-03-04

Over recent months Senator Frist and Senator Daschle have been banding figures back and forth with regards to setting up a trust fund.

A similar proposal was put to the vote in Senate earlier this year, and to the relief of mesothelioma sufferers and professionals assisting mesothelioma victims, the bill failed.

However, several months ago, Senator Frist proposed a new, improved asbestos trust fund of $140 billion. Daschle went one step further, proposing a trust fund of $145 billion.

This fund was to be made up of funds provided by asbestos manufacturers and companies, and their insurers, and contribution of a set amount would lead to immunity against further litigation regarding this matter.

The two Senators have not reached any compromise over the two individual proposals as yet, with each expressing concern over the other’s proposal.

Senator Daschle told reporters:

"Senator Frist and I have exchanged a good deal of paper and thoughts on how we can narrow the gap. That effort continues, and I'm still hopeful that before the end of this year we could complete our work."

However, Frist has told reporters that there are many issues on which the two have yet to agree, and that he was very concerned that some mesothelioma cases would still go through the normal channels under Daschle’s proposal.